Tuesday 16th October 1917

In bivouacs at Railway Dugouts and Zillebeke Bund.

A fine day, but cold.

Overnight 16^th/17^th, the Battalion moved to the front line, west of Polygon Wood, relieving 12DLI. A and B Coys occupied the front line from J.11.d.7.5. to J.12.a.5.5, with C and D Coys in the Support Line from J.11.c.5.6 to J.11.b.1.5. HQ was at The Butte (J.10.a.7.9).

One man was confirmed killed in action and a further five were reported missing. Pte. Joseph Fox (see 5^th October) was confirmed killed and Pte. Clifford Mackrell (see 10^th May) was reported missing having ‘lost his way when sent out as ‘C’ Company runner’. Ptes. George Bentley (see 5^th October), James Harding (see 5^th October), and Frank Miller (see 5^th October) were all officially reported as missing.  All five men are now commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing. Of the five all but Mackrell had only been with the Battalion for 11 days, having arrived with the draft from the Cheshire Regiment, via the Labour Corps on 5^th October. The fifth man reported missing was Pte. Harry Earnshaw (see 2^nd May); he would later be confirmed as being a prisoner in German hands, having been transferred to a prison camp at Limburg; the circumstances under which he came to be taken prisoner by the Germans are unclear and difficult to speculate about. Pte. Herbert Willoughby (see 2^nd July) suffered shrapnel wounds to his right forearm; he would be admitted via 69^th Field Ambulance to 6^th General Hospital at Rouen.

At about 9pm Cpl. William Foulds (see 11^th September), who was on duty as NCO of the watch in a section of the front line, “fell over an old rifle with a fixed bayonet protruding from the ground, causing a minor wound to his left thigh”. The wound appeared trivial and Foulds remained at duty.

L.Cpl. Thomas Arthur Bedford (see 29^th July) left the Battalion to return to England to begin a course of officer training.

Following two weeks treatment for a sprained ankle, Pte. Harry Robinson (see 3^rd October) was discharged from hospital and posted to 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples, en route to a return to active service.

Pte. Arthur Cerenza King (see 20^th September), who had been wounded on 20^th September, was transferred from 16^th General Hospital at Le Treport to 3^rd Convalescent Depot, also at Le Treport.

After two weeks being treated at 1^st Northern General Hospital, Newcastle as a ‘mental case’, L.Cpl. Walter Maynard Willis (see 2^nd October), was transferred to the Lord Derby War Hospital, Warrington. His condition was described as, “incoherent, confused, rambling speech, venereal disease”.

Lt. David Lewis Evans (see 13^th September), who had been in England having wounded in July, appeared before a further Medical Board assembled at The Manor War Hospital in Epsom. The Board found that, “Wounded at Ypres on 16/7/17 receiving numerous wounds of chest, one penetrating right lung. Wounds are healed and his condition is improved. No discharge from ears and the deafness of right ear has improved. He is recommended for 21 days leave and has been ordered to re-join 3^rd Battalion West Riding Regiment at North Shields on November 7^th. Railway warrants have been issued to Bridgend and from Bridgend to North Shields. It is not necessary for him to appear before the Board again”. On the expiry of his leave he would be deemed fit for home service.

Mrs. Angelina Pereira, mother of the late Capt. Adrian O’Donnell Pereira (see 23^rd September), who had been killed in action on 20^th September, wrote to the OC, Divisional Burying Party, 23^rd Division, regarding the burial of her late son:

“I shall be very much obliged if you can give me the exact position of the grave of my son, Capt. Adrian O’Donnell Pereira, 10^th Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment, who was killed in action on September 20^th near Veldhoek on the Menin Road and buried by troops under your command. I have obtained my information from his Battalion but have been unable to obtain the exact situation of his grave. Further, I am informed that although my son was killed by a shell fragment, his body was not severley mutilated which makes it so incomprehensible to me that so few of those personal belongings which he would be carrying on him have been returned to me. These are articles which would be particularly precious to me (his Mother) and all his family, being so closely personal to him and yet all I have received are a few letters and a wrist watch. Such articles as his signet ring, revolver, compass, field glasses and some medals which he always wore have not been sent back either in his kit or with the letters etc which I have mentioned above. I should be very grateful indeed if you could let me have any information on the points mentioned in this letter”.

 

Capt. Adrian O'Donnell Pereira